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icab  Quarters,  gist,  of  fonts,  'Set., 


HOUSTON.  Januarv  30. 1865. 
GENERAL  ORDERS, 
No.  4. 

Before  a  General  Court  Martial,  convened  at  Sabine  Pass,  Texas.  by  virtu" 
of  Special  Orders,  No.  114,  paragraph  X\ArI,  series  of  lb64,  from  these  Head- 
quarters, of  which  Capt.  Geo.  W.^Bryan  wai  President,  were  arraigned  ami 
tried  : 

1st,  Capt.  Chas.  Bickley,  Co*.  F,  21st  Teias  Infantry,  upon  the  following 
charges  and  specifications ; 

Charge  1st— Embezzeling  public    funds  with  which  he  was  entrusted  for  th 
payment  of  troops  under  his  command. 

Specification.— In  this,  that   he  the  said  Capt.   Chas.  Bickley,  Co.  F,  "J  I - 
Texas  Infantry,  did  appropriate  to  his  use  by  betting  at  Faro,  or  other  games 
of  chance,  the  sum  of  eight  hundred  ($800)    dollars,   with  which  he  had  U 
intrusted  for  the  payment  of  the  soldiers  of  his  own  Company  by  Captain  J. 
C.    Cabeen,   A.  C.   S.   A  A.  A.  Q.  M.,  of  the  2fst  Texas  Infantry.     This  at 
Houston,  on  or  about  the  1st  day  of  February,  1863. 

Charge  2d — Conduct  unbtconting  an  officer  and  a  gentleman. 

Specification — In  this  that  the  said  Chas.  Bickley,  Co.  F,  21st  Texas  Infantry 
after  having  sold  his  Pay  Account  for  the  month  of  June,  1^62,  to  Lieut.  L.  M 
Newsom,  21st  Texas  Infantry,  did  make  out  a  new  account  for  the  same  mo  nth. 
and  collect  the  same  from  Captain  J.  W.  Oliver,  A.  Q.  M.,  21st  Texas  Infantry, 
without  the  knowledge  and  consent  of  said  Lieut.  Newsom.  and  did  appropri- 
ate the  money  to  his  own  use. 

Charge  2d — Cowardice  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy. 

Specification  1st— In  this  that  the  said  Captain  Chas.  Bickley,  Co.  F,  21> 
Texas  Infantry,  being  Captain  and  Vol.  A.  D.  C.  to  Lieut.  Col.  W.  H.  Griffin . 
commanding  Confederate  forces  at  the  battle  of  Calcasieu  Pass.  La.,  on  the  Gil 
May,  1864, did  fail  to  appear  and  remain  at  his  post  on  the  battle  field,  but  did. 
during  the  heat  of  the  action,  take  shelter  under  the  hospital  Hag. 

Specification  2d — In  this  that  the  said  Captain  Chas.  Bickley,  Co.  F,  21ft 
Texas  Infantry,  being  in  charge  of  ordnance  on  board  the  steamer  Granite  City, 
at  Calcasieu  Pass,  La.,  on  the  8th  May,  1864,  did  conduct  himself  in  a  cowardly 
and  disgraceful  manner,  in  failing  and  refusing  to  fire  upon  a  U.  S.  transport 
when  ordered  to  do  so  by  his  superior  officer,  Major  F.  C.  McReynolds,  and  did 
shamefully  abandon  his  gun  and  retreat  into  the  hold  of  the  Granite  City  ;  and 
did,  by  tremulousness  and  other  unmistakeable  signs-,  manifest  timidity  and 
fear,  by  which  disgraceful  and  cowardly  conduct  said  transport  did  escape 
being  made  a  prize  to  the  Confederate  forces  there  present. 

Charge  4th — Conduct  to  the  prejudice  of  good  order  and  military  discipline. 
Specification  1st— In  this  that  he,  the  said  Captain  Chas.  Bickley,  Co.  F,  21sr 
Texas  Infantry,  being  officer  in  charge  of  ordnance  on  board  the  steamer 
Granite  City  at  Calcasieu  Pass,  La.,  from  the  6th  to  the  8th  May,  1864,  and 
knowing  that  one  of  the  enemy's  transports  was  expected  to  arrive  on  the 
morning  of  the  8th  May,  1864,  did  willfully  fall  and  neglect  to  put  the  guns,  or 
any  part  of  them,  in  battery  or  fighting  condition,  by  which  neglect  said  trans- 
port did  escape. 

Specification  2d— In  this  that  he,  the  said  Capt.  Chas.  Bickley,  Co.  F,  21st 
Texas  Infantry,  did,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  May,  1864,  on  board  the  steamer 
Granite  City,  at  Calcasieu  Pass,  La.,  being  in  charge  of  ordnance  as  aforesaid, 
report  to  his  commanding  officer,  Major  McReynolds.  that  the  guns  were  fan 
order  and  ready  for  action  ;  which  report  was  untrue. 


To  which  charges  and  specifications  the  accused  pleaded  Not  Guilty. 
Findings  and  sentence  of  the  Court: 

Of  Specification  1st  Charge,  -  -  -    Guilty, 

txecptihe  word  "<$gbt  hundred,'^ 

01' the  1st  Charge.  -  Gltlty 

of  misapplying  public  funds  entrusted  to  him  for  the  payment  of  the  troops 
under  his  command. 

Of  Specification  to  2d  Charge,  -  -        -      Guilty, 

except  the  words   "  from  Capt.  J.  W.  Oliver.  A.  Q.  M.M 

Of  the  2d  Charge,  .    -  -  -         Guilty. 

Or  Specification  1st,  Chargojld,  -  -  Not  Guilty. 

Or  Specification  2d,  Charge  3d,  ,  -  -  Not  Guilty. 

Of  Charge  3d,  ....  Not  Guiltv. 

Of  Specification  1st,  Charge  4th.  -  -         Not  Guilty. 

Of  Specification  2d,  Charge  4th,        '-  -  Grii/rv. 

Of  Charge  4th,  -  Guilty 

And  the  Court  do  therefore  sentence  the  said  Captain  Charles  Bidder,  Co. 
F,  Griffin's  Battalion,  to  be  dismissed  as  a  commissioned  officer  from  the  mili- 
tary service  of  the  Confederate  States. 

I.  Befoie  the  same  Court  was  arraigned  and  tried  1st  Lieut.  F.  II.  Bailet, 
Adjutant  Griffin's  Battalion  Texas  Infantry,  upon  the  following  Charges  and 
Specifications  : 

Charge  1st — Cowardice. 
Specification  1st— In  this  that  the  said  F.  H.  Bailey,  Lieut,  and  Adjutant  21st 
T.  V.I.,  did,  at  the  battle  of  Calcasieu  Pass,  La.,  on  the  Gtli  day  of '.May,  1864, 
behave  in  a  cowardly  and  unofficerlike  manner,  in  avoiding  the  enemy,  and  not 
appearing  on  the  battle  field  until  after  the  surrender  of  the  gunboat  "  Granite 
City." 

Specification  2d— In  this  that  the  said  Lieut  F.  II.  Bailey,  Adjt.  21st  T.  V.  I., 
.did,  during  the  heat  of  the  battle,  take  shelter  behind  the  hospital,  coming  there 
on  his  horse  from  an  opposite  direction  to  the  battle  field,  and  did,  when  asked 
how  the  fight  was  going  on,  reply  that  we  were  whipped  like  Hell,  or  words  to 
that  effect.     This  on  the  Gth  day  of  May,  18G4,  at  Calcasieu  Pass,  La. 

******* 

Charge  3d — Conduct  prejudicial  to  good  order  and  military  discipline. 

Specification  1st— In  this  that  the  said  Lieut.  F.  H.  Bailey,  Adjutant  21st  T. 
V.  I.,  did,  during  the  heat  of  the  battle  of  Calcasieu  Pass,  take  shelter  behind 
The  hospital,  and  when  asked  "how  the  battle  was  going,"  in  presence  of  both 
officers  and  enlisted  men  replied,  "We  are  whipped  like  hell,"  or  words  to  that 
effect.     This  at  Calcasieu  Pass,  La.,  on  the  6th  day  of  May,  18G4. 

Specification  2d— In  this  that  said  Lieut.  F.  H.  Bailey,  Adjutant,  21st  T.  V. 
I,,  did/after  taps,  gamble  at  the  game  of  Pharo  in  presence  of  and  with  enlisted 
men.     This  at  Sabine  Pass,  Texas,  during  the  month  of  February,  1864. 

Charge  4th — Abuse  of  authority. 

Specification  1st— In  this  that  the  said  Lieut.  F.  11.  Bailey,  Adjt,  21st  T.  V. 
I.,  did  issue  an  order  over  the  official  signature  ot  Col.  VV.  IT.  Griffin,  com- 
manding Post  of  Sabine  Pass,  during  his  (Col.  Griffin's)  absence,  and  by  so 
doing  force  an  ambulance  marked  Hospital  Department,  0.  S.  A.,  and  in  pos- 
session of  the  Medical  Officer  in  charge  of  Post  Hospital  from  said  officer  and 
the  use  of  the  Hospital  Department,  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Post  Quarter- 
master, which  order  was  in  violation  of  General  Orders  No.  29,  issued  from  De- 
partment Headquarters,  and  was  obeyed  under  protest. 

To  which  Charges  and  Specifications  the  accused  pleaded  Not  Guilty. 

Findings  and  sentence  of  the  Court : 

Of  Specification  1st,  Charge  1st,  -  Not  Guilty. 

Of  Specification  2d,  Charge  1st,  -  -  Guilty, 

except  the  words  "  did,  during  the  heat  of  the  battle  of  Calcasieu  Pass,  take 
.shelter  behind  the  hospital,"  but  attach  no  criminality  to  the  charge. 


Of  the  first  Charge,  :         Xot  Guilty. 

Of  Specification  1st,  Charge  3d,  -  -  Guilty, 

except  the  words  "  did,  during  the  battle  of  Calcasieu  Pass,  take  shelter  behind 
the  hospital." 

Of  Specification  2d.  Charge  3d,  -  -  Guilty. 

Or'  the  3d  Charge;  ....  Guilty. 

Of  Specification  4th  Charge,  ...        Guilty. 

Of  the  4th  Charge,  ....  Guilty. 

And  the  Court  do  therefore  sentence  the  said  Lieut,  F.  H.  Bailey,  Adjutant 
Griffin's  Battalion  Texas  Infantry,  to  three  months  suspension  from  rank,  pay 
and  command,  and  to  remain  at  Sabine  Tas<,  Texas,  during  the  entire  period  of 
suspension  :  also  to  be  publicly  reprimanded  by  the  Commanding  General  in 
General  Orders  from  District  Headquarters. 

III.  The  proceeding*,  findings  and  sentence  in  the  case  of  Lieut.  F.  H.  Bailey, 
Adjutant  of  Griffin's  Battalion,  are  approved  and  confirmed.  Lieut,  Bailey 
will  proceed  to  Sabine  Pass  and  report  to  the  commanding  officer  at  that  post, 
lie  is  released  from  orrest. 

IV.  The  proceeding*,  findings  and  sentence  in  the  case  of  Cap*.  Bicklcy, 
Co.  F.,  Griffin's  Battalion,  are  approved.  The  technical  misapplication  "of 
public  money  is  established  by  the  evidence,  but  the  circumstances  brought  to 
light  on  the  trial  do  not  warrant  the  conclusion  that  any  fraud  was  intended. 
In  regard  to  the  finding  on  the  specification  to  the  charge  of  conduct  unbecom- 
ing an  officer  and  a  gentleman,  although  the  facts  were  proved,  there  is  suffi- 
cieut  reason  to  believe  that  the  error  was  one  of  bad  memory  and  loose  business 
habits,  rather  than  a  deliberate  purpose  to  act  dishonorable.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances  the  Major  General  Commanding  remits  the  sentence  of  dismissal 
from  the  service,  and  trusts  that  this  lessoo  will  show  Capt.  Bickleytheie 
Bity  of  correcting  himself  of  one  unfortunate  habit,  but  for  which  these  proceed- 
ings would  never  have  been  necessary.  He  is  released  from  arrest  and  restored 
to  duty  with  his  company. 

By  ccnfM.vxD  of  JfcTilJ.  GEN.  WALKER, 

W.  A.  SMITH,  A.  A.  GEX. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


